Ranch owner in court

2003-08-06 12:17

Johannesburg - Andrew Phillips, owner of the upmarket erotic club The Ranch, will go on trial in Johannesburg regional court on Monday on charges of running a brothel and living off the proceeds of prostitution.

Phillips appeared briefly in court on Wednesday for the case, which had been set down for five days, but the magistrate was ill.

Phillips was arrested and released on bail of R10 000 after a raid on his club and another brothel, the Titty Twister, both in Rivonia in February 2000.

The Scorpions had The Ranch closed in December of that year and Phillips subsequently approached the Constitutional Court to have the club re-opened.

During the raid, 41 alleged prostitutes were found on the premises. Many of them were allegedly in the country illegally.

The State alleges that between June 1999 and February 2000, Phillips operated a brothel at The Ranch, allegedly procuring women to be prostitutes. He also allegedly employed women from East European and Asian countries illegally, and allegedly aided and abetted persons illegally in the country, to remain here.

On Wednesday, the prosecution told the court that according to information received two weeks ago, Phillips consulted with a possible state witness.

Defence team leader Mike Hellens, SC, submitted that the witness' name was not on the list provided.

According to the five counts on the amended charge sheet, the State was set to prove that Phillips either managed or assisted in the management of the two clubs, or allowed them to be used as brothels.

Also that he "negotiated with agents" for women to be placed at The Ranch to act as "common prostitutes" and have sex with a third person.

The State alleges that the prostitutes had sex with customers at The Ranch, but not at the Titty Twister.

- SAPA